The Vine and the Branches

Dear Parishioners,

The Bible uses many vivid images to describe God and the Church and our relationship with them. It’s a unique and intimate connection. Today’s gospel (John 15:1-8) reminds us that this relationship is like a vine and its branches. Jesus is the vine who provides life and nourishment to us, the branches. May we never do anything to cut ourselves off from this life-giving relationship.

- Fr. Carl

“If you are afraid of other people’s opinion,
you should not have become a Christian.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Pray for More Priests!

Dear Parishioners,

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday, and the world day of prayer for vocations, and especially prayer for priestly vocations.

The gospel is always from a part of John 10 (11-18); Jesus’ sermon on the “Good Shepherd.” Like the good shepherd, Jesus never abandons his flock, always protects the flock from any and all dangers, and even lays down his life for the good of the flock if necessary.

Today, there is a great shortage of priests in most of the world, especially in the United States, and particularly in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Currently, 17 of our 153 active priests are over the age of 70. If the current trends hold, the number of active priests will be reduced to less than 100 over the next 15 years.

If you see a young man who you think might make a good priest, mention it to him gently. That seed of encouragement might, with the water of the Holy Spirit, take root and grow into a vocation. At the very least, pray not only today, but every day for an increase in vocations for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

- Fr. Carl

“To pray well we need not speak much.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Dear Parishioners,

What defines us as followers of Jesus, a people who are Christ-like, Christ-centered, Christian? Memorized words? Regimented rituals? Remembered stories? Those things surely inform our Christian experience, but God help us all if they define it.

To be a Christian is to champion a radical picture of God, made living and lifechanging
through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. To be a Christian is to define our lives by a grace none of us deserve and can never earn. To be a Christian is to live joyfully in this new humanity God is creating… a humanity we call the Church.

- Deacon Robert

“When you hear Mass, do you come in
the same frame of mind as the Blessed
Virgin at Calvary? Because it is the
same God, and the same Sacrifice.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Let's Not Rest On Our Laurels

Dear Parishioners,

What a wonderful Holy Week it was! The different liturgies on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday, as well as our devotions of the Stations of the Cross and Tenebrae, were all well attended and well celebrated by young and old alike. It was particularly good to see so many of our teens in attendance.

I can’t thank all those who worked so hard to make these services so beautiful – the Decorating Committee, the Choir and our Musicians, the Lectors, Cantors, Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, our Masters of Ceremonies, our Ushers, our deacon, Robert Vlcej, and Fathers Brian Nolan, Jack Kelly, and Ray Lelii. It was truly a team effort. And of course, thanks to all of you who came and participated. Your presence and participation helped and inspired us to lead you in prayer. But most all, we need to thank the Good Lord for all he has done in history and whose Holy Spirit was present in the liturgies and hearts of all who participated.

Now there is a temptation to sit back, relax, and congratulate ourselves. However, that would be counter-productive to our Lenten resolve and Easter joy. The Good Lord invites us to continue onward and turn Holy Week into a Holy Year.

- Fr. Carl

“God wills that we should work today
and tomorrow; and after that, an
eternity of joy, of happiness,
awaits us in Heaven.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Happy Easter!

Dear Parishioners,

Every year around this time, the darkness of winter turns into the brightness of spring. Dead branches, bushes, and flowers all spring to life. However, this doesn’t last, because spring turns to summer, then fall, and then back to the darkness of winter. What does last, and what should give us eternal hope, is the joy of the Resurrection we celebrate Easter Sunday and re-celebrate each Sunday of the year. It is a constant reminder that good triumphs over evil; right conquers might; and that we can share in our Lord’s victory through eternity if we are faithful to Him here during our time on earth. May you and your families all have a joyous Easter.

- Fr. Carl

“If I make God to reign in my heart,
He will make me to reign with
Him in His glory.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Passionate About Holy Week

Dear Parishioners,

Today we begin the most awesome week of the year – Holy Week. We used to call this Sunday “Palm Sunday” because of our Lord’s glorious and triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Now it is called “Passion Sunday” because of the greater emphasis on our Lord’s passion, crucifixion, and death.

In shifting the emphasis to our Lord’s passion (suffering & death), we are reminded of his intense love for us. We are also reminded that our love for Jesus and the Trinity should be passionate as well, and not lukewarm. In the last book of the bible, Revelation, we are told what God thinks of lukewarm Christians. “… and because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spew (vomit) you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16) That is a very passionate response.

Let us show our passion for God by attending the Holy Week services, especially Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday. By the way, we are celebrating the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday at the traditional time when Jesus died at 3:00 p.m., and not in the evening as we have done in the past. Passionate Catholics will find a way to get there even if they have to take some time off from work.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

- Fr. Carl

“The Passion of our Lord is like
a great river that flows down from
a mountain and is never exhausted.”
- The Cure D’Ars

Following Your Heart

Dear Parishioners,

A champion high jumper was once asked how he was able to catapult his body across the bar and set the world’s record. Thoughtfully, the athlete responded, “I threw my heart over the bar and the rest of me followed.”

Today’s readings from the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34) and John’s Gospel (John 12:20-33) remind us that in the journey of faith, the heart lifts us to a level of living reserved for those who choose to follow Jesus. Simply put, there is no way to follow our Lord on his way to Jerusalem and the cross without doing so from the heart.

In these final days of Lent, no matter where you are on life’s everchanging and challenging journey, know above all else that Jesus, the giver of eternal life, the lover of your soul, longs to be with you. And who knows? Perhaps your longing to follow Jesus and his longing to be with you may become the pathway to the gift of eternal life.

- Deacon Robert

“When the heart is pure, it cannot help
loving, because it has found the source
of love, which is God himself.”
- The Cure D’Ars